Council of Twelve Apostles (Community of Christ)

In the Community of Christ, the Council of Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy. They are disciples who hold the priesthood office of apostle, and are responsible for the evangelistic witness of the church. Apostles are also high priests in the Melchisedec priesthood of the church.

Calling

As with all priesthood in the Community of Christ, members of the Council of Twelve are considered to be "called by God." The Prophet-President "receives" the call, and after consultation with the other two members of the First Presidency, "presents" the call to the candidate. If the candidate accepts, the candidates name is presented to the World Conference and the call is sustained by majority vote. New apostles are ordained in a special worship service held during the World Conference. Prior to the Presidency of W. Grant McMurray, the call of apostles and other members of presiding quorums of the church were named in an "inspired document" that was added to the scriptures of the church in the Doctrine and Covenants. McMurray and others believed that the lengthy passages related to priesthood calls reduced the readability of the Doctrine and Covenants. Since that time, these priesthood calls have been presented in a separate document that is not included in the Doctrine and Covenants. Most appointee ministers live in the Independence, Missouri, area, however, the current trend is to base apostles in the field. Each apostle has an office in the Independence Temple and they share administrative staff.

Responsibilities

Individual apostles may be assigned to various responsibilities of church leadership, including field administration. Together with the First Presidency and the Presiding Bishopric, this council is a part of the "World Church Leadership Council." Each of the apostles is called to serve as a "special witness of the gospel", and each is appointed by the First Presidency to oversee one or more of the church's mission fields. In recent years, some members of the Council are also given responsibility for certain areas of program ministry. If for any reason the First Presidency is dissolved or otherwise unable to preside over the World Conference, the Council of Twelve Apostles presides over the conference until such time as the First Presidency resumes functioning or is reorganized. Assigned by the First Presidency, they carry major responsibility for church expansion, and serve as administrative supervisors of field jurisdictions. The Council of Twelve Apostles elects one of its members to serve as President of the Council of Twelve and another member to serve as Secretary of the Council of Twelve. Members of the Council of Twelve Apostles are normally full-time paid ministers, called "Appointee Ministers" in the Community of Christ.

Members of the Council of Twelve Apostles directly supervise Mission Center Presidents and missionaries holding the priesthood office of Seventy. They have the authority to call Mission Center Conferences and frequently preside over certain portions of the various conferences. Apostles usually initiate calls to the offices of high priest and evangelist, often in consultation or at the behest of Mission Center Presidents. Apostles usually hold annual or semi-annual meetings of the appointee ministers and key staff members in their fields. Apostles have the authority to organize or dissolve congregations and ministry groups. If a Mission Center President takes over operation of a congregation (usually only in situations of extreme dissent), an appeal of this decision may be made to the apostle that supervises that field. Apostles typically travel to missionary fields around the world, even when they have fields entirely within the United States. This international missionary experience is believed to enrich both the recipients of the ministry as well as the experience of the apostles' themselves. Most jurisdictions of the Community of Christ hold summertime family camps called "reunions." Apostles usually spend much of their summer attending various reunions.

Progressive Influence

The Council of Twelve Apostles has long been regarded as the primary advocates for the growing international presence of the church and its international witness of Jesus Christ. In addition, the Council has frequently strived to lead the church towards progressive stances on issues such as homosexuality, women in the priesthood, open communion, ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, environmentalism, peace and justice ministries. Former apostle Charles D. Neff (1958–1984) led the Council of Twelve in developing relativistic viewpoints towards both ritual and doctrine in order to make the gospel relevant across cultures. Presently, the Council contains five female apostles, an African, a Polynesian and a Honduran.

Current members

The current members of the Council, their specific assignments, and year they joined the Council are as follows:[1]

1844 to present

This is a list of the members of the Council in the Community of Christ, (formerly Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) ordained after 1844. The dates are the years they served as a member of the Council of Twelve.

Name Began Service Ended Service Cause of Departure Other Positions Nationality & Notes
Jason W. Briggs 18531885 Not sustained as Apostle at the 1885 conference. President of the Council of Twelve Apostles American. Withdrew from the church sometime after 1885 conference
Zenas H. Gurley, Sr. 18531871 Ordained Joseph Smith III as president in 1860.
Henry Harrison Deam 18531854
Reuben Newkirk 18531873
John Cunningham 18531855
George White 18531859
Daniel B. Rasey 18531873
Samuel Powers 18551873
David Newkirk 18551865
William W. Blair 1858 10 April 1873 Called to First Presidency First counselor in the First Presidency American. Served as first counselor until his death on 18 April 1896
John Shippy 18601868
James Blakeslee 18601866
Edmund C. Briggs October 1860 18 April 1902 Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch. President of the Seventy American
Josiah Ells 18651885
Charles Derry 18651870
William H. Kelley 18731913 President of the Council of Twelve Apostles (1897– )
Thomas Wood Smith 18731894
James Caffall 18731902
John H. Lake 18731902
Alexander Hale Smith 10 April 1873 12 April 1897 Ordained a Presiding Patriarchs/Evangelist. Counselor to Joseph Smith III
President of the Council of Twelve Apostles (1890–97)		 American. Third surviving son of Joseph and Emma Smith.
Zenas H. Gurley, Jr. 18741885
Joseph R. Lambert 18731902
James W. Gillen 11 April 1887[3] 1899
Heman C. Smith 11 April 1887[3]1909 Church Historian
Joseph Luff 11 April 1887[3]1909 Canadian
Gomer T. Griffiths 11 April 1887[3]1922
Isaac N. White 12 April 1897[4] 1913
John W. Wight 12 April 1897[4]1913
R. C. Evans 12 April 1897[4]1902 Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency

Bishop (With specific jurisdiction over the church in Canada)

 Canadian. Broke with the church in 1918 and formed the Church of the Christian Brotherhood
Peter Andersen 19011920
Frederick A. Smith 19021913
Francis Sheehy 19021920
Ulysses W. Greene 19021922
Cornelius A. Butterworth 19011922
John W. Rushton 19021947
James F. Curtis 1909 7 April 1938 Honorably released
Robert C. Russell 19091922
James E. Kelley 19131917
William Murray Aylor 19131922
Paul M. Hanson 19138 October 1958[5]
James A. Gillen 19131934 President of the Council of Twelve Apostles (1922– )
Thomas W. Williams 19201925
Myron A. McConley 19201948
Clyde F. Ellis 19231945
John F. Garver 13 October 1922 9 April 1946 Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency American. Was president of the Board of Trustees for Graceland College
Daniel T. Williams 19228 October 1958[5]Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
F. Henry Edwards 13 October 1922 9 April 1946 Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency Secretary of the Council of Twelve Apostles English. Honorably released from First Presidency on 18 April 1966,
Edmund J. Gleazer 19228 October 1958[5]Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
Roy S. Budd 19221936
George G. Lewis 19321948
George C. Mesley 7 April 1938 1954
Arthur Alma Oakman 7 April 1938 1964 Ordained an Evangelist Evangelist English
Charles R. Hield 7 April 1938 6 April 1964[6]Honorably released
D. Blair Jensen 194618 April 1966[7] Honorably released
Roscoe E. Davey 19476 April 1964[6] Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
Maurice L. Draper 19478 October 1958[5] Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency
W. Wallace Smith 19471950Ordained as counselor in the First Presidency Prophet-President
Percy E. Farrow 194818 April 1966[7] Honorably released
Reed M. Holmes 19481 April 1974.[8] Ordained as Presiding Patriarch/Evangelist
Donald O. Chesworth 195014 April 1972.[9] Ordained as Patriarch/Evangelist
Donald Victor Lents 1954 8 April 1980 [10] Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch
Charles D. Neff 8 October 1958[5]5 April 1984[11]Honorably released American
Clifford A. Cole 8 October 1958[5] 8 April 1980 [10] Called to ministries of teaching and writing
Cecil R. Ettinger 2 April 1960[12]1 April 1974[8]Honorably released
Duane E. Couey 2 April 1960[12]18 April 1966[7] Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Presiding Patriarch/Evangelist American
Russell F. Ralston 6 April 1964[6]29 March 1976[13]
William E. Timms 6 April 1964[6]3 April 1978[14] Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch
Earl T. Higdon 18 April 1966[7]1 April 1974[8]Honorably released President of Graceland College
Alan D. Tyree 18 April 1966[7] 29 March 1982[15] Ordained counselor in the First Presidency
Aleah G. Koury 18 April 1966[7]8 April 1980 [10] Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch Canadian
Howard S. Sheehy, Jr. 1 April 1968[16] 1980 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency American. Ordained counselor on 3 April 1978, but remained as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles until 1980.
John C. Stuart 14 April 1972 [9]29 March 1982[15] Ordained as Evangelist/Patriarch
William T. Higdon 1 April 1974[8]5 April 1992[17] President of Graceland College
Lloyd B. Hurshman 1 April 1974[8]14 April 1988[18]Honorably released
Paul W. Booth 1 April 1974[8]5 April 1992[17]Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist
Eugene C. Austin, Sr. 29 March 1976[13]10 April 1994[19] Honorably released
Roy H. Schaefer 3 April 1978[14]14 April 1988[18]Honorably released
Phillip M. Caswell 3 April 1978[14]1998
Kisuke Sekine 8 April 1980 [10]5 April 1992[17]Honorably released Japanese
Everett S. Graffeo 8 April 1980 [10]1994[19] Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist
Kenneth N. Robinson 8 April 1980 [10] 1996 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency Australian
Joe A. Serig 29 March 1982[15]1998
James C. Cable 29 March 1982[15]1996
Geoffrey F. Spencer 5 April 1984[11]10 April 1994[19]Honorably released Australian
A. Alex Kahtava 14 April 1988[18]2002 Canadian
John P. Kirkpatrick 14 April 1988[18]2007
David R. Brock 5 April 1992[17] 27 March 2007 Ordained as the Presiding Evangelist President of Seventy
Presiding Evangelist		 American
Lawrence W. Tyree 5 April 1992[17]2002
Stephen M. Veazey 5 April 1992[17]2005 Ordained as the Prophet-President President of the Council of Twelve

Prophet-President

 American
Danny A. Belrose 10 April 1994[19]2000Ordained as Presiding Evangelist Canadian
Dale E. Luffman 10 April 1994[19]January 3, 2013[2] American
Kenneth L. McLaughlin 10 April 1994[19]2005
Peter A. Judd 19962000 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Counselor in the First Presidency English
James E. Slauter 1996May 3, 2011[20] Early retirement, family health[20] President of the Council of Twelve Apostles
Secretary of the Council of Twelve Apostles		 American
Gail E. Mengel 31 March 1998 2005 Called as Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer President of Church Women United

Ecumenical and Interfaith Officer

 Along with Linda L. Booth, the first women to be ordained apostles.
Linda L. Booth 1998present President of the Council of Twelve Apostles (incumbent), Director of Communications (incumbent) American, along with Gail E. Mengel, the first women to be ordained apostles. Also first female president of the Council of Twelve.
Leonard M. Young 20002010
Bunda C. Chibwe April 2000 present President of the Sixth Quorum of Seventy Zambian
Mary Jacks Dynes 20022010Retired President of the Fifth Quorum of Seventy.
David D. Schaal 20022005 Ordained counselor in the First Presidency President of the Tri Stake Mission Center

Counselor in the First Presidency

 American
Stassi D. Cramm 2005[21]2016[22]Ordained counselor in the First Presidency[22] and Presiding Bishop[22] Counselor to the Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop
Counselor in the First Presidency
Ronald D. Harmon Jr. 2005[21]present
Rick W. Maupin 2005[21]present American
Susan D. Oxley 2005[21]2015 American
Andrew Bolton 20072016[22] English
Carlos Enrique Mejia 2007present Honduran
Richard C.N. James 2010present
K. Scott Murphy 20102013[2]Ordained counselor in the First Presidency Director of Field Ministries
President of the Council of Twelve 		American
Barbara L. Carter 2013[2]present
Mareva Arnaud Tchong 2013[2]present Polynesian
Arthur E. Smith 2013[2]present Canadian
Janné C. Grover 2016[22]present
Robin K. Linkhart 2016[22]present
Lachlan E. Mackay 2016[22]present

References

  1. ↑ "Council of Twelve Apostles", cofchrist.org, accessed 16 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Stephen M. Veazey (3 January 2013). "Letter of Counsel Regarding the Presiding Quorums". Coastal Bend Mission Center.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 119
  4. 1 2 3 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 124:4A
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 145:3, 5b, 6b, 6c, & 7
  6. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 147:1, 2 & 4
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 148:1 - 4
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 151:2 - 7
  9. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 150:1A & 2A
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 154:1 - 3
  11. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 156:1 & 2
  12. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 146:1
  13. 1 2 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 152:2a & 3
  14. 1 2 3 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 153:5 - 6
  15. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 155:3 - 5
  16. ↑ Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 149:1
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 158:3-6
  18. 1 2 3 4 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 157:1-3
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Community of Christ (RLDS): Doctrine and Covenants: Section 159:2 - 5
  20. 1 2 Veazey, Stephen M. (May 3, 2011). "Letter of Counsel Regarding the Presiding Quorums". Cumminty of Christ. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Official Minutes of Business Session", Community of Christ World Conference 2005, 4 June 2005.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stephen M. Veazey, "Letter of Counsel about World Church Leadership", cofchrist.org, March 31, 2016.
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